Roofing clip



1,62 7 1927 w. e. BICKELL 1 J ROOFING CLIP Filed March as. 1925 sheets-sheet 1.

- wnmssszs v Q I INVENTOR y w. G. BICKELL ROOFiNG cur Filed March 23. 1925 2 sums-sheet 2 MIMI-III I .WITNESSES INVENTOR 4, M M w m s G t I Patented May 3, 1927.

U N l T S S 1,626,780 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. IBIGKELL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE A. BELDING, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROOFING CLIP.

Application filed March 23, 1925. Serial No. 17,540.

This invention relates to shingle securing means, and particularly to a suitably formed clip adapted to space the shingles in their proper relation and to hold them locked in fixed position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a securing clip of the character referred to which will not only positively and accurately space the shingles of one layer or course in proper relation but will operat-ively engage the shingles of the next or succeeding layer or course to hold them in position.

It is another object to provide an integrally formed clip especially adapted for use in conjunction with composition shingles permitting them to be laid with their corners pointing towards the lower edge or eaves of the roof and cooperating with the shingles to properly position those of one course and to lock the lower corners of those comprising the succeeding course.

A further object is to provide an integral securing clip equipped with abutting shoulders of substantial extent for contacting a plurality of edges of each shingle comprising one course and a locking tongue for holding the lower corner of a shingle of a succeeding course in place.

A still further object is to provide a securing clip of extremely great strength in comparison with its weight one which is fool-proof in the hands of the user in that it will function in a similar fashion regardless of which face is placed uppermost, one which can be easily and quickly applied, one which will enable various degrees of overlapping of-the shingles to be accomplished without altering the size or form of the clip, one in which the abutting shoulders are provided without necessitating perforating or slitting of the metal forming the body of the clip and without leaving sharp or rough edges disposed within the margins of the clip, one which assists in the drainage of water finding its way between the shingles, and one which can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

These and other objects of the invention will more fully appear when taken in conjunction with the following description and the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a plan view showing the method of using the invention in conjunction with one type of shingle; Fig. 2 a similar view illustrating the invention as applied in connection with a different form of shingle; Fig. 3 a view corresponding to Fig. 1, illustrating the reversible or fool-proof feature of the securing clip; Fig. 4 a vertical transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 a detail perspective view of the preferred form of securing clip, also illustrating how the laterally projecting tongue is positioned for threading through the slits at the lower corners of the shingles; Fig. 6 a View corresponding to Fig. 5, showing a modified form of clip in which the attaching means therefor is provided by striking up a portion of the metal; and Fig. 7 a perspective view of the starting clip employed for the initial or first course of shingles.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of the shingle securing means or clip is illustrated in Fig. 5. The entire clip is formed of sheet metal, and in a single piece, by pressing suitably shaped blanks to the form shown in the drawings. The body of the clip is provided with portions offset from each other so as to form four similarly shaped shingle-receiving recesses overlying the portions of the body indicated at l, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, the portions 1 and 2 being disposed in one plane, and the portions 3 and 4 in another plane, oil'set from that of portions 1 and 2. Extending laterally from the portion 2 is an integrally formed tongue 5 of slightly less width than the body of the clip.

The metal of the body joining the offset portions, thus described, serves as side walls defining the several recesses, the wall 6 being common to both the recesses overlying the portions 2 and 3, and defining one side of the recesses. Similarly the wall 7 is common to the recesses overlying the portions 2 and 4 and defines one side wall of each of these recesses. The remaining side walls of the several recesses are in a similar fashion defined by walls 8 and 9.

The two sidewalls of each of the recesses are disposed at right angles to each other, for instance the side walls 6 and 7 of the recess overlying the portion 2, whereby to form a suitably shaped recess for receiving the right-angled corner of one of the i of the substructure of the root.

shingles when project-ed thereinto, the side Walls thus eltectively serving as limiting abutments for the edges of the shingle. The wall 6 is disposed in substantial alignment with the wall 8, and the walls 7 and 9 are likewise disposed in substantial alignment with each other, all of the walls radiating from a common point as a center, disposed centrally ot the body of the clip.

Preferably the height of the side walls is such as to offset the corresponding pair of recesses overlying the portions 1 and 2 from the complementary pair of recesses overlying the portions 3 and at, a distance equal sub stantially to the thickness of the shingles with which the clip is to be used. Due to the arrangement described, it is obvious that the recesses or depressions overlying the portions 1 and 2 are arranged in alignment with each other, and that the same is true of the reor depressions overlying the portions 4;. In order to facilitate the attachment of the clip to the contiguous corners of adjacent shingles, the portions 3 and a may be provided with suitable openings such as shown at 10, 10, for receiving the fastening nails or tacks 11.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated a modified form of clip, corresponding in all respects to the clip illustrated in Fig. 5 with the exception ot the means provided for fastening the clip to the corners of the shingles, and for bodily anchoring the clip to the supporting members Instead of the nail or tack-receiving openings 10, 10, in this embodiment a pair 01": struck-up tongues 12, 12 are provided. These tongues are formed by slitting the metal of the body along two sides of a triangle, such as at 13, 13, and then bending the triangular shaped tongue away from the body, all in a manner which will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 6. In this embodiment, there is also provided a nail-receiving aperture or opening 14 coincident with the central point from which the sides of the several recesses or depressions radiate. Otherwise than as described in detail, this modified form of clip corresponds to that of Fig. 5 and the parts common to the two embodiments have therefore been designated by the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings there has been illustrated the so-called starting clip, that is, the clip for use particularly for securing the initial or first course of shingles immediately adjacent the eaves of the roof. This starting clip comprises a flat rectangular body portion 15, equipped with the nail-receiving openings 16, 16', and an integrally formed laterally projecting tongue 1?, formed similarly to the tongue The use of the clip in conjunction with several types of shingles, and its cooperation therewith will now be described. In Fig. 1,

provided expressly for this purpose.

a roof made up of rectangular shingles, ar-

supporting sub-structure of the roo-, in any suitable and well known fashion. The imtial or first course or layer of shingles is then secured in place, with their lower corners terminating substantially flush with the edge of the base or weather-strip 20 and with the contiguous side corners of adjacent shingles lying in juxtaposition to each other, the initial layer or course as shown in Fig. 1 being made up of the shingles 21, 21, 21", 21, etc. In order to anchor these shingles in place, starting clips such as shown in Fig. 7 are first securely nailed in place, upon the base or weather-strip 20 and the supporting substructure of the root, and the tongue 17 then bent upwardly so as to lie in a plane substatially at right angles to the body 15, as illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. The tongue 17 is threaded through the salt 1' elongated opening 22 extending through the body of the shingle at a point suitably spaced from the lower corner thereof, and l Vith the tongue 17 threaded through the slit 22., the tongue is then bent downwardly so as to lie closely adjacent the upper surface of the shingle.

ll ith the first or initial course fastened in place by the starting clips in this manner, clips fashioned as shown in either Fig. 5 or Fig. 6, are then disposed so as to permit the side corners of each pair of adjacent shingles. for instance shingles 21 and '21 to pro' within the pair of receiving recesses overlying the portions 3 and l of the clip, the portions 1 and 2 serving as unbroken liat bases of substantial extent resting firmly upon the previously positioned shingle therebelow. ()ne of these clips is similarly positioned so as to receive the contiguous corners of each pair of adjacent shingles. I1": the form of clip shown in Fig. 5 is employed, suitable nails are inserted in each of the openings 10 and 10 and driven through the corners of the shingles into the supporting sub-structure, thus positively holding the corners of the shingles in the desired relation. The effectiveness oi" the co-action between the clip andthe shingles is greatly enhanced due to the fact that the receiving recesses or depressions of the clip are provided with unbroken side walls disposed at right angles to each other, thus intimately abutting the edges of the shingles throughout a substantial extent. 7

In order to position the second layer or course of shingles comprising the shingles 23, 23, 23", 28", etc. the tongue 5 of each In conall] of the clips is bent upwardly from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to that shown in dotted lines in this figure, and then threaded through the slit 22, and the tongue subsequently bent downwardly so as to lie adjacent the upper surface of the shingle all in a fashion similar to that previously described in connection with the attachment of the tongue 17 of the starting clip. In turn, additional clips are arranged so as to embrace the contiguous corners of adjacent shingles of the second layer or course, for instance the pair of adjacent shingles 23, 23", and the tongues thereof threaded with the slits of the shingles 24, 24, 24, etc., of the next course, each succeeding layer or course being thus built up until the entire roof is completed.

One manner of engagement of the securing clip with the contiguous corners of two adjacent shingles is clearly shown by the clip designated generally by the reference numeral 25, in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In this case, the corners of the shingles lie below the portions 3 and 4 of the clip, and the fastening nails are driven successively through the openings in these portions, the corners of the shingles, and the supporting sub-structure. The form of clip used in this instance is that shown in Fig. 5. Due to the fact that this form of clip is reversible, in that it is immaterial which face of the clip is positioned uppermost, it is rendered foolproof in the hands of the user. By referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, particular attention being directed to the clip indicated generally by the reference numeral 26, it is seen that by reversing the clip so that its bottom face as used in Fig. 1, is positioned uppermost, the corners 27 27 of the shingles will be received by the same recesses of the clip, being disposed above the body of the clip rather than beneath it. Regardess of which face of the clip is positioned uppermost, the tongue 5 thereof is properly positioned for threading through the slits in the corners of the shingles comprising the next course.

The clip is also adapted for use, in a similar manner, with shingles shaped as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, namely, those in which the lower corners thereof have been cut off to form straight bottom edges. In this case the short straight edges 28 of the first or initial layerof shingles are disposed so as to lie substantially flush with the edge of the base or weather-strip 20, and each of the shingles is provided with an elongated slit 29 adjacent the edge 28 corresponding both in form and function to the slits 22 of the first described embodiments. In this type of roof, the shingles of the first course are secured in place by means of the starting clips shown in Fig. 7, and the side corners of the adjacent shingles properly spaced and positioned by means of the clips shown in Figs. 5 and 6, as in the previously described embodiments.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the securing clips forming the subject matter of this invention are particularly adapted for use in connection with composition shingles, and that the clips shown in Figs. 5 and 6 not only accurately position the side corners of the adjacent shingles of one layer or course, but by the cooperation of the laterally projecting tongues with the slits provided in the shingles of the next or succeeding course, serve also to anchor the lower corners thereof in a fixed position, thus effectively preventing the up-turning of their lower corners under the influence of wind or other disturbing factors. The threading of the tongues of the clips in one row with the slits of the shingles also assures the side corners of such shingles being brought into the desired relation for the application of the securing clips of the next row. It is also noted that the relative proportions of the tongue and body of the clip, as Well as the provision of the unbroken portion 2 with its solid side walls 6 and 7, greatly enhances its effectiveness for drainage purposes over previously known constructions.

An inspection of the several drawings will clearly show that the degree of overlapping of the several layers or courses is determined by the relative positioning of the slits 22 or 29, as the case may be, and it is obvious that by re-positioning these slits at various distances from the lower corners or straight edges 28 of the shingles, the degree of overlapping may be varied at will. Especial attention, however, is directed to the fact that regardless of the position of the slits in the shingles, the several securing clips may be used in identically the same fashion, and without any change whatever, for securing and holding the shingles in place. It is also obvious that in the initial fabrication of the clips, the laterally projecting tongues may be disposed relatively to the body, as shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 5, if desired, instead of in the same plane as the body portion thereof.

Although, as previously described, merely the recesses overlying the portions 3 and 4 have been employed for receiving the corners of the shingles, and the tongue 5 in each case has been positioned with its body substantially parallel to the lower edge or eaves of the roof, it is obvious that due to the fact that all four of the recesses or depressions overlying the portions 1, 2, 3, and 4 are of the same size and shape, either pair of these recesses may be used as shinglereceiving recesses under circumstances rendering it desirable, and that the tongue may project from any side of the body and be arranged angularly to the lower edge of the roof should occasion demand, for instance in arranging special shaped shingles to give predetermined visual effects.

The body of the clips has been purposely n'iade with the minimum number of open ings therein, and the side Walls of the shingle receiving recesses have been purposely made unbroken and continuous throughout their entire extent, in order to provide a clip of extremely great strength in comparison to its Weight, and for the additional purpose of eliminating all objectionable sharp or rough edges from the intermediate portion of the clip, While at the same time retaining its dual function of positioning and anchoring the shingles in two courses or layers and its reversible feature which renders it tool-proof in the hands of the user.

I claim:

1. A reversible shingle securing clip coming the said offset portions forming Walls defining the sides of the recesses.

2. A reversible shingle securing clip comprising a sheet metal body having portions thereof ofiiset from each other and located in difiicrentplanes providing four similarly shaped recesses, the metal of the body joining the said offset portions forming Walls defining the side of the recesses, all of said walls radiating from a common point as a center,

3. A reversible shingle securing means comprising an unbroken sheet metal body having portions thereof offset from each other and located in different planes to form a similar pair of shingle receiving recesses defined by unbroken side Walls, the side walls of each recess merging into each other and being disposed angularly with respect to each other, and each of the side Walls of one recess being in substantial alignment with one of the side Walls of the remaining recess.

In testimony whereof, I sign my name.

WILLIAM G. BICKELL. 

